FEMA is leading the charge on social media's use. While it is not perfect at least they are setting an example for emergency management programs at the state and local levels. As noted in Social media tends to be a one-way communication for FEMA they have been very good at using the new tools to get information out via multiple social media tools.
I'm sure that Craig Fugate is pushing his agency to start using social media for a two-way dialog and for situational awareness during emergencies and disasters. The FEMA ship is slow to turn direction, just as many other government agencies are still making up long lists for why they can't use social media.
Let me reiterate, Twitter and other forms of social media are not just another way to push information out. The real goal is to have a two way dialog. The tools exist, we just need to embrace them!
